Beith Juniors FC: My Site News: Evening Times Article: Iain Ashcroft on the Pollok game on 27/03/10

Friday, March 26Evening Times Article: Iain Ashcroft on the Pollok game on 27/03/10

Beith coach Iain Ashcroft could never look upon Pollok as a spent force.

Bookmakers strongly fancy the table-topping Ayrshire side to send Lok home empty-handed after tomorrow’s Super Premier showdown at Bellsdale Park.

However, former Newlands-field hero Ashy insists the outcome is anything but a sure thing. Indeed, he has rubbished claims the Glasgow giants are on the wane because they are without a league win since the 3-1 defeat of Largs Thistle in late November.

The 47-year-old said: “Pollok are too big a club and have far too many quality players to be down in the doldrums for long and I would never under-estimate them.

“Yes, their results have been disappointing of late, but guys like Bryan Dingwall, Joe Carruth and Stevie Miller will be determined to get a revival up and running especially with a new manager in Willie Irvine to try and impress.”

Ashy won league titles as a player with Arthurlie, Pollok and Irvine Meadow, however he believes it would represent a “top everything” achievement if he could help Johnny Miller steer Beith to championship success this season.

“Even when we made a great start to our league campaign, nobody tipped Beith to last the course. But you have to credit the players for showing a

phenomenal consistency to stay on top of what is a hugely competitive division and, at long last, people in the game are sitting up and taking notice.

“I still believe most pundits expect Auchinleck to overhaul us in the run-in – and it is a possibility – but they will need to play some to do it because our guys are determined not to settle for second best.”